Mr Browne and his wife Jean put the house on the market asking €3.25m at the end of last year in a bid to raise cash to pay off debts estimated at €1.5m, to buy a smaller property and provide for a pension.

It is not yet known how much the six-bedroom Dalkey house fetched.

The semi-detached property has a garden that runs down to the sea.

However, estate agents said that in the current economic climate it is unlikely that the full asking price was reached.

"Yes, we sold the house," the TV3 presenter said, although he would not be drawn on price.

Mr Browne, and his wife bought the semi-detached home on Coliemore Road for £94,000 in 1987.

He said in an earlier interview that the he has known for years that they had no other choice but to sell the house.